Beef Herd Shrinks While Replacement Heifers Increase Slightly
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. cattle inventory held near last year’s level July 1, but […]
Articles by Tony St. James
Feedlot Inventories Rise While Placements And Marketings Slow
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. feedlot inventories remained above last year on July 1, while slower […]
USDA Begins Phased Reopening Of Mexican Cattle Border
LUBBOCK, TX – USDA will resume limited Mexican livestock imports August 24 through Douglas, Arizona, […]
China Pork Glut Weakens Meat And Feed Demand
LUBBOCK, TX -China’s pork glut is driving hog prices below chicken prices, signaling weak consumer […]
Few Livestock Producers Use Available Price Risk Tools
NASHVILLE, TN – Agricultural economists are surprised that relatively few livestock producers use futures and […]
Biofuel Mandates Test Capacity And Soybean Oil Demand
LUBBOCK, TX – Renewable fuel mandates could strengthen demand for soybean oil and distillers corn […]
Lamb Import Investigation Gains Strong Western Producer Support
LUBBOCK, TX – Rising lamb imports have triggered a federal safeguard investigation strongly supported by […]
Rice Crop Nears Historic Low As Losses Persist
NASHVILLE, TN – U.S. rice production is projected near a 40-year low, tightening supplies and […]
Large Corn Bet Creates Opportunity, Not Price Guarantee
LUBBOCK, TX – A massive bullish corn-options position may create useful pricing opportunities, but producers […]
Data Center Pledge Targets Rural Electricity Cost Concerns
WASHINGTON, DC – A White House pledge aims to keep data-center electricity costs from landing […]
Ethanol Production Rebounds As Exports And Blending Strengthen
NASHVILLE, TN – U.S. ethanol production rebounded sharply last week as exports and domestic blending […]
Fruit Growers Pair Heavy Treatment With Intensive Scouting
WASHINGTON, DC – Fruit growers treated large shares of orchards and berry fields in 2025, […]
Federal Heat Rule Could Reshape Summer Farm Work
WASHINGTON, DC – A federal heat standard could change how farms schedule crews, manage seasonal […]
Higher Fuel Prices Raise Irrigation Costs Across Crops
NASHVILLE, TN – Rising diesel prices and lingering drought could sharply increase irrigation expenses for […]
Massive Corn Options Bet Could Accelerate Harvest Rally
CHICAGO, IL – One major trader is betting December corn could rally toward $6 before […]
Expanding Dairy Herd Pushes Milk Price Forecast Lower
LUBBOCK, TX – U.S. dairy farmers are producing more milk as herds expand, but the […]
Cattle Markets Weaken Ahead Of Major USDA Reports
LUBBOCK, TX – Cattle markets are losing momentum as fund liquidation, falling futures, weaker fed-cattle […]
New Sorghum Futures Target Basis Risk Against Corn
CHICAGO, IL – CME Group plans to launch a new sorghum futures contract August 24, […]
Massive Corn Options Bet Could Accelerate Harvest Rally
CHICAGO, IL – One major trader is betting December corn could rally toward $6 before […]
Massive Corn Options Bet Targets Major Harvest Rally
CHICAGO, IL – One market participant is betting corn will rally sharply before harvest, with […]
Small Processors Watch Farm Bill Custom Beef Language
LUBBOCK, TX – Farm bill discussions could affect how small meat processors and livestock producers […]
WTO Reform Push Leaves Farm Trade Questions Unanswered
LUBBOCK, TX – WTO reform efforts are moving forward, but agriculture remains stalled, leaving U.S. […]
Feedlot Profits Fade As Cattle Costs Keep Rising
LUBBOCK, TX – Kansas feedlots posted strong early-summer returns, but projected profits turn sharply negative […]
Trade Deficit Strategy Could Reshape Agricultural Export Markets
NASHVILLE, TN – White House efforts to reduce the national trade deficit could bring new […]
China Farm Plan Moves From Enough Toward Better
NASHVILLE, TN – China is redesigning its food system around better food, smarter farms, and […]
House Bill Expands Rural Banks and Agricultural Lending
WASHINGTON, DC – A bipartisan banking bill moving to the Senate could expand agricultural lending […]
Drought Threatens Cattle Herd Rebuilding Despite Strong Prices
LUBBOCK, TX – Drought is complicating cattle herd rebuilding even as feeder and slaughter cattle […]
Indiana Ethanol Expansion Adds Major Local Corn Demand
NASHVILLE, TN – Indiana corn growers could gain a major new market as POET doubles […]
Cotton Dispute Highlights Longstanding WTO Agricultural Negotiation Challenges
LUBBOCK, TX – Cotton remains one of the unresolved issues preventing broader agricultural trade agreements […]
New Beef Trim Futures Launch With Distinct Roles
LUBBOCK, TX – CME launched two beef-trim futures contracts Monday, giving processors, packers, importers, and […]
Data Centers Test Rural Water And Power Supplies
NASHVILLE, TN – Massive data centers can bring tax revenue and new investment to rural […]
Beef-On-Dairy Growth Complicates Traditional Cattle Herd Rebuilding Signals
NASHVILLE, TN – USDA’s semiannual cattle inventory report may offer an incomplete picture of herd […]
Corn Exports Stay Strong As Soybean Shipments Slow
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. corn export inspections remained strong during the week ending July 16, […]
Fewer Hog Farms Produce More At Lower Costs
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. hog production has shifted toward fewer, larger, and more specialized operations, […]
USDA Review Could Reshape How Cattle Earn Value
LUBBOCK, TX – USDA is asking whether beef grades still accurately reward the cattle producers […]
Soybean Oil Unit Train Expands Domestic Farm Demand
NASHVILLE, TN – A first-ever unit train of soybean oil from Nebraska signals that new […]
Higher Rail Rates Threaten Northern Wheat Basis Strength
LUBBOCK, TX – Northern wheat growers face higher rail costs beginning in August, threatening local […]
Disaster Documentation Helps Producers Protect Future Assistance Claims
LUBBOCK, TX – The first steps producers take after a natural disaster can make a […]
Grain Export Prices Fall As Farm Inputs Rise
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. agricultural export prices increased overall in June, but corn and soybean […]
Gene-Edited Insects Target Berry Pest Before Screwworm Applications
LUBBOCK, TX – Agragene’s first commercial application of its precision-guided sterile insect technology may arrive […]
Rural Households Rely More Heavily On Food Pantries
WASHINGTON, DC – Rural households use food pantries at higher rates, making local food banks […]
Outside Groups Increase Pressure On Livestock Policy Debate
LUBBOCK, TX – Livestock policy debates are drawing increased attention from groups outside traditional agriculture […]
Small Processors Strengthen Rural Beef Supply Chains Nationwide
LUBBOCK, TX – Small and mid-sized beef processors play a much larger role than simply […]
Farm Losses Deepen As Producers Seek Federal Support
NASHVILLE, TN – Farm losses could deepen again in 2027, increasing pressure for additional federal […]
China Soybean Buying Surges As Corn Sales Falter
WASHINGTON, DC – China drove a surge in new-crop soybean sales while old-crop corn and […]
Data Centers Create New Challenges For Poultry Growers Nationwide
NASHVILLE, TN – Data centers are becoming an unexpected factor in poultry production as growing […]
WTO Farm Talks Remain Stalled Amid Growing Trade Tensions
LUBBOCK, TX – WTO members resumed agricultural negotiations this month, but major disagreements continue to […]
USDA Screwworm Challenge Expands Search For Better Control Tools
LUBBOCK, TX – The fight against New World screwworm is extending beyond today’s control methods […]
Senate Farm Bill Draft Avoids Major Livestock Debates
LUBBOCK, TX – The Senate farm bill discussion draft includes several livestock priorities but leaves […]
Tractor Sales Slide While Combine Demand Improves Slightly
MILWAUKEE, WI – U.S. tractor sales fell sharply in June as producers remained cautious about […]